Just read the thread and the additional news about Tanith & Tara. Tanith I don't mind because I never watch ice dance. However, I'll be honest Tara I'm not particularly thrilled about. I don't care for her voice nor her self-absorption nor her self, which is the way she comes across to me when I have seen her on t.v. However, will try to keep an open mind. And after all 2 out of 3 ain't bad, lol.

ps: I do love Tara's house though, built in the style of GWTW (one of my favorite all-time movies & books), and also she posted one of thee most loveliest pictures ever on IN's twitter feed a couple of months ago ~ a picture of her on an old-fashioned swing underneath a huge antique tree with lush greenery all around her and I think her dog was in the picture.

I saw on espn (surprise!) today that Johnny has retired. Good for him. This gets rid of all the speculation about his return. He can enjoy life now. I just wish he had won an Olympic medal at some point. His best chance was in 2006.

Haven't read the thread, just read the news, and my immediate thought was Johnny's selection was probably based on his potential to fill the void left by Mr. Button ~ cerebral, witty, sarcastic at times, funny, and knowledgeable. Congratulations, Johnny!

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EXACTLY!! Johnny's comentary has always been clever, insightful, and most of all, honest without being demeaning-a characteristic that would do well in ANY media connected to a sport like Figure Skating. Fall as they may, there will never be a man, woman, or team that would say "I came here to lose, so fifth place is right where I wanted to be.." Johnny has the sensitivity and presence of mind NOT to throw comments out there that will be hurtful to others. His critiques are funny as well as clever. I canot wait to see what he does with "Trankov'sPants!!!!"

Ha and surely the sour grapes from those who love to gripe about anything Johnny-related could be predicted too, misskarne! At least we can score one for "blind Freddie" in a very positive way.

Unless you happened to donate money yourself, what's your worry?

Johnny may wish he'd done some things differently in his career if he was able to do them over, but I doubt his decision to make the effort to come back is one of the things he would change.

It's kind of funny that you are able to tell us all about when athletes need to give it up and retire, misskarne.

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I DID donate money to Johnny's comeback fund..and I don't want ANY of it back!! To me, he has given me so much joy throughout his career, that he can keep any money I sent as a gift!! Meeting him after Ice Dreams 2011 is one of the highlights of this so-called life! He was the most amazingly gracious host durig the VIP afterparty!! he was so tired, and never once let on that he didn't have an hour apiece for the approximately 50 or so of us there.. Completely selfless, kind, funny and generous with both his time and his attention. You would have thought HE was there to see US...

Jesus, Joseph and Mary Lou Retton, we get it. You don't like Tara. You're a Kwan devotee and you can't stand the girl who beat her for the ultimate gold medal. Got it. Got it. Got it 5,000 posts ago. Now go buy a calendar that doesn't read 1998 anymore.

Back to Johnny, lovely article. It made me teary-eyed. Very well-written and brimming with class. He'll make a fine addition to NBC.

Since I am not changing my mind due to your insults you can always just put me on ignore.

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Oh please. It's not about views. You live for Tara references so you can bash her. If you want to keep doing it, continue on. I don't want to deny you the great joy it obviously brings you in what must be a lacking life.

I DID donate money to Johnny's comeback fund..and I don't want ANY of it back!! To me, he has given me so much joy throughout his career, that he can keep any money I sent as a gift!! Meeting him after Ice Dreams 2011 is one of the highlights of this so-called life! He was the most amazingly gracious host durig the VIP afterparty!! he was so tired, and never once let on that he didn't have an hour apiece for the approximately 50 or so of us there.. Completely selfless, kind, funny and generous with both his time and his attention. You would have thought HE was there to see US...

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Same with me, Johnny showed me such kindness every time I saw him after ice shows at his training rink, he remembered me and my family and was always so amazed that people waited to see him.

I think that despite his come back last year not being the one he nor his fans wanted, at least he had the courage to actually get on the ice at a grand prix and try. That is a lot more than many other "comeback" skaters ever do.

Skate Canada commentating - too much talking while skaters are performing - I'm trying to listen to the music and soak in the skate! Save the comments afterward. Much of what he said today he repeated when they replayed some of the moves, which is a better place to talk more than during the performance.
EDIT - also mean to add that the comments were appropriate and informative, just too much during the skate.

When would anyone spare a few dimes to hire a real technical specialist or ex-judge to commentate? For example, David Santee is not an stranger to figure skating viewers past a certain age. His live commentary at US Nationals (on Skate Radio) is pretty good, and he is funny and entertaining as well.

I thought Johnny did a great job. He's funny and personable and he was able to explain why people are still credited even when they fall which no one else has done. He explained quite a lot actually. For fans who only join in during an Olympic year I think that'll make him a great asset to NBC and figure skating in general. Also his familiarity with the skaters allows him to add some personal anecdotes like the adorable Poohdium comment he made. I can't wait to hear him again.

Just being a tech specialist doesn't make a great color analyst, Jun Y. No reflection on Santee who is good at both. Johnny has the advantage of not only being witty and insightful, but also of knowing the current skaters so well having competed against many of them under this judging system.

EXACTLY!! Johnny's comentary has always been clever, insightful, and most of all, honest without being demeaning-a characteristic that would do well in ANY media connected to a sport like Figure Skating. Fall as they may, there will never be a man, woman, or team that would say "I came here to lose, so fifth place is right where I wanted to be.." Johnny has the sensitivity and presence of mind NOT to throw comments out there that will be hurtful to others. His critiques are funny as well as clever. I canot wait to see what he does with "Trankov'sPants!!!!"

I think that despite his come back last year not being the one he nor his fans wanted, at least he had the courage to actually get on the ice at a grand prix and try. That is a lot more than many other "comeback" skaters ever do.

I thought Johnny Weir did a very creditable job with his commentary and analysis. He was clear spoken, fair, and eloquent. He has such a lively personality and he keeps the broadcast interesting. I love him in this role! Go Johnny, be good! I love that Johnny actually tries to give deep insights into the skaters and their programs and he gives really good explanations as to why an element did or did not go well. That's actually a little problem I have with Tara's commentary is that she's too simple and basic and sort of glosses over the issues that a skater has. I'd like her commentary to be a little more technical and knowledgeable.

However, I did feel that Terry Gannon was questioning Johnny too much during the skaters' programs and it was a little distracting trying to hear the music. I think they should try to stick with sparse comments during the performance and then maybe address more thought provoking questions after the program ends when the skaters are taking their bows, leaving the ice, the broadcast is showing element replays, and the skaters are receiving their marks in the kiss and cry.

Terry Gannon has such powerful clear voice and manner of speaking. It does give the program more of a "Sport" vibe, in that he is a professional broadcaster/commentator.
Sometimes some of the newer ones, such as Tara, kind of speak in a different manner and tone than what the pro broadcasters/announcers do. For the behind the scenes and online commentating I imagine that is ok, but for the big broadcasts it seems better having a trained professional broadcaster on board too.
Anyway all the relevant input and insights the commentators give out are interesting. Sometimes for those who watch a lot, we hear some of the same back story repeatedly, but I imagine the producers want that for the newer viewers.

Really hoping some videos appear. I really like Johnny's commentary - I mean, he talks too much, but so do most of them. And at least he usually stays focused on the skater who is actually on the ice, unlike some commentators who will happily talk about every other skater in existence EXCEPT the one on the ice!

That's exactly what I thought. Nice to have commentary from someone who actually understands the system.

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As I listened to Johnny, I imagined I was one of those casual skating fans who tunes in mainly for the Olympics and doesn't really understand the ins and outs of the sport. I thought Johnny did an excellent job of explaining it all, plus he knows the skaters personally and was able to describe what they're like. He was also able to add little details for the dedicated fans who do know the ins and outs of the sport.